second of a four-part series: 1987
1987 was Linden’s first vintage. There was a lot of pressure to make a great wine right out of the starting gate. Big powerful wines were garnering accolades and high Parker points. New technologies and scientific analysis were driving American winemaking. I was not immune to the trends of the day. The path of numbers-driven, interventionist, aspirational winemaking was my initial approach.
Read MoreFirst of a four-part series: 1987
1987 was Linden's first vintage. Over the next couple of weeks I'll write about the most significant changes and improvements that have impacted wine quality. I'll also write about forty years of changes to the cellar, sales and marketing, and the business side of the operation since we started in 1985.
Read MoreFrom the Library | Special December Tastings
What to Pair with What's on Your Table: A Holiday Wine Seminar
Read MoreBarrel Conundrum
The cellar is now quiet. Fermentations are mostly complete, and all the new wine is in barrel. This year’s yields were down by almost 50%. This presents a unique problem that impacts both last year’s and next year’s wines.
Read MoreLate Harvest
Last week, after a long pause, we finally picked Petit Manseng. It was a late harvest. The wine will be Late Harvest. This is so simple that it is confusing. Late Harvest is an official federal designation that has no guidelines. But you can count on the wine being sweet, concentrated and delicious.
Read MoreFirst Impressions: 2025 Reds
Last week the last of our reds were drained and pressed. The have some very nice material to work with when it comes time to blend. Here are my first impressions of the young, raw wines.
Read More2025: A Classic Vintage
With the exception of a couple laggard barrels the 2025 wines have now finished fermenting. As anticipated, they are powerful and concentrated with fresh acidity. They are also wonderfully classic; reminiscent of some of my favorite vintages from the 1990s and early 2000s. At this stage these wines are raw, unevolved and tricky to evaluate. While aromas and flavors will change dramatically over time, a wine's texture remains fairly constant. Texture in wine is hard to explain. It refers to mouth feel, tactile sensation, weight, and harmony. But my favorite analogy is the anticipation when sinking one's teeth into an apple.
Read MoreVintage Matters
Read MoreToothsome, But Not Photogenic
Red harvest started yesterday. The clusters were not pristine. The grapes were a bit gnarly looking. The vines look somewhat bedraggled. The crop is small. But the flavors, ripeness and concentration are remarkable.
Read MoreHarvest Update: Finishing Whites, Waiting for Reds
It's Time for the Winegrower's Selection
Read MoreThe Intuitive Vintage
Picking decisions have been unpredictable this vintage. There have been too many uncertain and unusual variables. We experienced a hot, wet, tropical early summer. Then came drought and cool nights. Earlier this week 3” of rain fell in 24 hours. The yields are about half of typical. This may be our smallest harvest since 1987. Spotted Lanternfly continues to menace. No playbooks for 2025. Intuition rules.
Read MoreStir Crazy
Every vintage has a personality that impacts the wines. But for those of us that harvest, crush and ferment there is also a distinct rhythm for each season. This year is no exception. Spring and mid-summer were wet, humid and hot making for extra vine work under less than ideal conditions. Once ripening began conditions have been near idea with dry sunny days, low humidity, and cool nights. Ripening has been slow which is making for some concentrated grapes with very high-quality acidity.
Read MoreNuts
Harvest is slow to start this year. One more week before the Sauvignon Blanc is ready to pick. This gives us some bonus time to work on equipment and tweak the vineyard. Waiting also gives us time to do nothing. This beautiful weather has allowed for some quality porch time allowing me to observe and to think about nothing.
Read MoreLate Harvest?
It looks like it will be a late start to vintage 2025. Veraison (color change) in red wine grapes was only slightly later than average, but yesterday we ran our first lab tests on Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
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